The Light, the Dark and the Ugly

by Bryan Cohen

  Ted considered the point as they walked right through into the dark soul capital. Nobody even slowed the line as everybody streamed inside.

  Ted let out a sigh of relief. "Okay. I'll consider it."

  He looked behind him and saw that the line ended shortly after they'd entered. The creaking gate loomed large as it began to shut. Within a few moments, all of them were trapped within the city walls.

  Now there's only one way out. Through the portal and back to Earth.

  PART FIVE

  Chapter 41

  Kit Kable woke to the sound of knocks at the door. He half expected his wife to answer it before remembering that he'd stabbed her through the chest with a metal pole. The light of dawn flitted in through the blinds. He figured he should've known better than to set his alarm any later than 5 a.m.

  Kable rolled out of bed and opened the door. "Good morning, Terry."

  Terry's breath was erratic as he walked right past the Presidential candidate. It sounded as if he'd sprinted to Kable's house. Why would he need to make a house call this early on a Saturday morning?

  Terry sat on the rumpled comforter. "Mr. Senator, I've got a few questions and I need you to answer me honestly."

  Kable took a deep breath. He was prepped on every potential policy question a reporter could ask him, but he had the feeling this had nothing to do with his political platform.

  "Always."

  Terry coughed as he tried to collect himself. He stared right into Kable's eyes.

  "Were you born and raised in Pennsylvania?"

  Kable knew that Terry had seen him kill Sandra in cold blood. There was no need to keep secrets from him now.

  "No."

  Terry let out a tiny moan, as if he'd hoped his boss would give a different answer. He took a few seconds before asking the next question.

  "Did you ever go by another name?"

  Kable was wide awake now. He pressed an intercom button.

  "Ruth, can you get me some coffee and an outfit for today?" Kable turned his attention back to his campaign manager. "Terry, why are you asking me this?"

  Terry gripped the bedspread, his knuckles turning white. "You tell me everything, and then I'll tell you everything."

  Kable put on his slippers and pulled back the curtain. The sound from outside startled him. There were news vans and protestors as far as the eye could see.

  "Yes. My birth name was–"

  "Adam. And you used to have powers like Ted, right?"

  Kable grabbed the curtain with his mind and pulled it shut. A simmering anger inside him was starting to boil. "Where did you get this information?"

  Terry swallowed hard. "Turn on YNN. Or any channel, really. It's all they're talking about."

  A staff member dropped off an outfit and a latte as Kable flipped on the TV. Rudy Bolger's fat, familiar face was the first thing he was able to make out. It took a few moments of recollection until he realized the other people on the screen. Victor, his childhood friend, sat with an arm draped over an elderly woman whose very appearance tugged at his heartstrings.

  "Mom?"

  For a moment, Kable forgot where he was and when he was. He pictured his parents' run-down house and the tire swing he and Victor used to play on as children. The memory was well over 40 years old, but it felt as fresh as yesterday. He had a regular life then. Before the power. Before the craving for more.

  He washed it all away when Bolger spoke.

  "Mrs. Crammond, did you know that your son was alive?"

  Kable dropped his latte, though his powers kicked in and froze it in place about an inch off the ground.

  "I had a feeling, Rudy, but it was just too upsetting to even consider. If my Adam was alive, why wouldn't he come to see me for 30 years?" His mother began to cry. "What does that say about me as a mother?"

  Kable's emotions were a fireball. He watched the sickly satisfied look on Bolger's face at making an octogenarian cry. Victor wept, too. Kable knew now that he should've snapped his childhood friend's neck years ago.

  Bolger continued, as Kable wished all the pain in the world against him. "Victor, what did you think when you heard that your buddy was running for President?"

  Smoke emanated from the now-overheating TV.

  "We're proud of him. No matter what his name is now."

  Bolger's face began to fizzle as the screen melted from within. "Mrs. Crammond, do you plan on voting for Kit Kable in the election?"

  His mother gave Bolger an incredulous look. "Of course I will. He's my son."

  Kable didn't hear anything else from the interview, as the TV literally exploded in front of him. He stopped the glass and fire from coming anywhere near him, though Terry had to duck a few shards of plastic.

  Kable bent down to pluck the latte out of the air. He took a few sips and sat down on the edge of the bed.

  "It's finished. I'm finished."

  Kable knew that there was no chance this would blow over by election day. Even if he could disprove all the theories out there, it would dominate the airwaves and his poll numbers would drop precipitously in the meantime. In the midst of his grand disappointment, Kable remembered that Terry was still sitting in his room.

  Kable blood simmered in his chest. "I was too sentimental. I could've burned every trail, but I wasn't willing to go all the way."

  He sent his mug of espresso and milk into the wall. The ceramic shattered into hundreds of pieces and the brown liquid trickled to the floor. Breaking objects usually helped him find some release, but this time he felt nothing but pure rage.

  "Sir?"

  Kable focused on Terry. "You humans have held me back long enough."

  Terry fumbled uncomfortably with his words. "Mr. Senator, I'm on your team."

  Kable reached out with his powers and picked up Terry with ease. With a little flick of his wrist, Kable twisted Terry's neck until he heard a satisfying pop. He let go of his lifeless campaign manager, who hit the ground with a thud.

  Adam smiled. "The campaign is over. I'm going solo."

  He scanned the minds of the reporters who surrounded his property. The puzzle piece of information he sought slipped right into place.

  "Chicago." Adam stepped over the dead man's corpse. "I hope you don't mind me going off schedule, Terry. But I've got a couple of old friends to visit."

  Chapter 42

  As she worked hard to keep her footing, Natalie realized the portal ordeal had begun in a similar cave.

  Hopefully it doesn't end in one, too.

  The group of dark soul rebels had gone around so many different twists and turns that Natalie had a hard time believing that any of them knew where they were going. Perhaps if they never got to the unintentional entrance below the stronghold, Natalie could escape while they regrouped back at headquarters. Her wish wasn't granted.

  Whispers from the front of the pack reached the back where Natalie was stationed. They'd reached the underbelly of the castle. Natalie recalled the countless soldiers training within the stronghold's walls. Nothing about this felt right, and her throat was tight and uncomfortable.

  "You look a little pale." Stucky patted her on the back and flashed a yellowish grin.

  She tried to match the smile. "I just can't wait to get inside."

  If she'd accidentally left any sarcasm in that statement, Stucky didn't seem to catch it. "I like your enthusiasm."

  Natalie pulled Stucky down into a private conversation. "Do you really think we'll kill the General?"

  Stucky closed his mouth and wrinkled his brow. "I don't think it matters. Our deaths will show that people are willing to fight back."

  Stucky left Natalie's side to join the front line. As everybody began moving forward, Natalie pondered the idea of martyrdom. Turns out, she wasn't a fan of the concept.

  The hole into the bottom of the stronghold was the result of a massive ceiling cave-in. Large stones from the upper levels had slammed into the floor hard enough to create an opening into the long-forgotten tunnels.
Since this part of the stronghold was underused, Sandra's sources had said, few even knew about the problem. Natalie hoped the spies were right.

  Stucky took her arm and lifted her inside. There was a definite change in the air as she planted her feet on less rocky terrain. Natalie noticed several empty bottles on a rack that may have previously held thousands.

  Stucky leapt up beside her, and she gestured to bottles. "Wine cellar?"

  He pursed his lips together. "Actually, it was a blood cellar. Early on in the war, the dark souls believed they could harvest the powers of the light souls by drinking their blood."

  Natalie stepped back from the bottles. "Ugh. Did it work?"

  Stucky shrugged. "Probably not. It was just a silly custom."

  Natalie took her eyes as far away from the blood rack as possible. "Yeah. Silly is definitely the word I'd use to describe it. Not insane. Or psychotic."

  "Or bloodthirsty?"

  Natalie put her hand to her face. "Maybe today is a good day to die."

  With that, Natalie heard the creak of a gate opening. While they'd been having an oh-so-fun chat, a few other rebels had been working on the lock to the main castle. Their success made Natalie's heartbeat quicken.

  Just stick to the back. Your chance'll come.

  Natalie looked around the group. There were 15 of them in total, and only Sandra, Farraday and Stucky seemed to pay her much of any attention at all. With Sandra and Farraday up near the front, Natalie might only have to escape the view of Nigel's former gang member. Stucky brought up the rear of the group with her as they walked through the now-open gate.

  Natalie hadn't missed her place of captivity, but at least the parts at the top of the tower had sunlight. The hallway they snuck through was dark and reeked of mold.

  They should really get this place inspected.

  After they turned down several hallways, Natalie started to get her bearings. Her memories of the passageways far above them seemed to be very similar. She could tell that the group was almost directly below the room she'd been tortured in.

  From time to time, Stucky would ask her what direction to go. He would then relay that message to the front. The system worked well until Natalie heard a low rumbling. It was rhythmic, as if a drumline were practicing on the other part of the castle. Only it wasn't percussion. It was the sound of footsteps, and they were getting louder.

  The rebels pressed themselves against a wall. Natalie had just passed a corner when the group froze in place. She could hear her heartbeat as she looked back from the direction they'd come. Sure enough, a small militia of troops was fast approaching from behind. Natalie did her best to maintain a whisper as she spread the news up the line. Her forced compatriots didn't have the reaction she thought they would. Instead of fear, there was resolve. Instead of cowering or hiding, they drew their short swords.

  Natalie's eyes darted from left to right. She battled her nerves to think about the last few twists and turns of the hallway. Natalie pictured the blueprint in her head. There was a chance that she could run past the soldiers and duck into another hallway before they started shooting. If a single one of them was trigger happy, then she'd be burnt to a crisp.

  Natalie made a motion to gather all the rebels in a huddle. It wouldn't be long before the troops got too close for the plan to work. But she needed the rebels' trust first.

  Natalie put her hand on the hilt of Sandra's sword. "Let me lead the charge. I wanna be the first one."

  Sandra beamed. "Of course." She allowed Natalie to remove the sword from its sheath.

  Stucky stepped up to her side. "And I'll go second."

  Natalie couldn't help but think of Razellia and Vella. If her already risky plan went well, then Stucky would be the first rebel to die.

  Ignore your conscience. Ignore your conscience.

  Natalie's stomach tightened and wouldn't let go. She raised her sword into the air. The other rebels did the same. With that, she ran toward the sound of the footsteps.

  She could hear the rebels trying to keep up behind her. Natalie's heart raced as the General's troops spotted her. She wondered if she'd once again broken her best 40-yard dash time when she heard their weapons powering on. The lead soldier called something out, but Natalie couldn't hear it. All her attention was focused on the approaching side hallway. A blast of energy illuminated the walls as it came toward her. At the last possible second, she grabbed Stucky by the shirt and used their momentum to heave them both into the open passageway. She slammed her shoulder hard into the ground below as Stucky landed on top of her.

  Natalie smiled that she hadn't been scorched, but Stucky's grip around her neck signaled his lack of enthusiasm.

  He glanced back at the energy blasts firing through the hallway. "Why'd you do that?! This is for the cause!"

  Screams of agony filled the passageway behind them. Natalie broke Stucky's grip on her neck and took him by the collar. "You're a father and a husband. There's no better cause."

  Natalie didn't know if it was the adrenaline or that her words finally got to him, but it looked like something in Stucky's eyes clicked.

  He stood up and offered her his hand. "You're right."

  Natalie accepted the help and stood. The fight continued to rage behind them.

  Stucky shook his head. "I can't believe I'm taking life advice from a human."

  Natalie smirked. "Here's some more advice. Let's get the hell outta here!"

  Without checking to see who was winning the skirmish, Natalie and Stucky made a mad dash in the opposite direction.

  Natalie kept her mental blueprint handy and made several turns until they reached the base of a staircase. "If we follow this all the way up, we can get anywhere in the castle. Do you know how to fly one of those transports?"

  Stucky nodded. "With a few hundred years of training, you learn pretty much everything."

  They ran up several flights, putting the battle far behind them. Natalie felt her heartbeat begin to slow.

  Stucky rubbed at the back of his neck. "I haven't seen my family in over a year. What do you think I should tell them?"

  Natalie shrugged. "Tell 'em you love 'em. The rest'll probably fall back into place."

  As they turned the corner, a bloody figure blocked their paths. Natalie wasn't sure how she knew, but the blood seemed to have come from multiple sources. The woman's chest heaved and a smile of insanity crossed her lips.

  Sandra stepped forward. "Speaking of falling into place."

  Before Natalie could react, the leader of the dark soul rebels kicked her so hard in the midsection that she flew backward into the stairwell. She reached back for control, but it was too late. Natalie tumbled down the stairs, each stone step bruising whichever part of her body made impact. She winced and her head spun before landing with a thud at the base of the stairs, directly on her sore shoulder. The pain was blinding, but she somehow maintained consciousness. Natalie got to her feet and prepared for Sandra's imminent attack, but her adversary wasn't the first thing that came down the steps.

  There was a squishy bouncing noise making its way around the stairs. Natalie almost gagged when she saw the source of it. Stucky's decapitated head landed by her feet, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.

  Natalie backed away from the blood and Stucky's wide-open eyes. "No, no, no. This isn't fair."

  Laughter rained down on her from the stairwell. Sandra emerged, gracefully taking the last few steps until she was on Natalie's level. "I don't recall you being one to complain."

  Natalie had faced a lot in the last year, but she'd never felt fear like she had in this very moment. There were no words to express it.

  Sandra smiled. "If it's any consolation, he probably didn't suffer. But you will."

  Natalie continued to back away, and Sandra kept pace. Natalie was only a few feet away from the nearest wall when she heard a voice trickle through her mind.

  "Get ready to run."

  Ted's voice was all she needed to make the fear go a
way. Natalie planted her feet. "You know what?"

  Sandra looked surprised as the sudden change in her opponent's demeanor. "What?"

  Natalie straightened her spine. "You would've made a crappy first lady and an even worse General."

  Ted's voice sounded again. "Now!"

  Sandra charged again just as all hell broke loose. Before the dark soul could get halfway toward Natalie, the walls seemed to explode around them. Stones shot out in every direction and showered them both. It took Natalie a moment to realize that it wasn't an explosion at all. A gargantuan object caused the demolition, and it was headed straight for them. Natalie ran and dove, but Sandra wasn't so lucky. The solid object, which was about the size of a two-car garage, landed right on top of her. Her screams were drowned out by the carnage of stones flying in every direction. When everything settled, Natalie got a better look at whatever it was that had neatly ended her conflict with Sandra.

  It was part of the ridiculously large stone statue of the General. The head.

  "Now that's what I call head-for-a-head."

  The side of the castle was now a gaping hole to the outside. Natalie checked out the new view and saw the only person who could've decapitated and tossed the General's immortalized noggin.

  "Ted!"

  Chapter 43

  Ted and Erica stood at the base of the statue for a moment, admiring its headlessness.

  Erica nodded. "I think it looks better this way."

  Ted smirked. "Can I take the head back to Earth with us?"

  She crossed her arms. "Where are you gonna put a giant head?"

  Before Ted could answer, several dark soul troops came streaming out of the stronghold. Anticipating their glances, Ted focused on as much sand as he could and whipped it around himself, Erica, Travis and the rest of the group. It swirled around them like a tornado, and it completely concealed them in the process. As instructed, Ferrick and the other dark souls kept their eyes off him at all times.